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Taken Trilogy #1
Lost and Found
Not so long ago Marcus Walker was just another young commodities trader in Chicago, working hard and playing harder. But that’s all in the past, part of a life half forgotten—a reality that vanished when he was attacked while camping and tossed aboard a starship bound for deep space.
Desperately, Walker searches for explanations, only to realize he’s trapped in a horrifying nightmare that is all too real. Instead of being a rich hotshot at the top of the food chain, Walker discovers he’s just another amusing novelty, part of a cargo of “cute” aliens from primitive planets—destined to be sold as pets to highly advanced populations in “civilized” regions of the galaxy.
Even if he weren’t constantly watched by his captors, Walker has few options. After all, there is no escape from a speeding starship. Another man might resign himself to the inevitable and hope to be sold to a kindly owner, but not Walker. This former college football star has plenty of American ingenuity and no intention of admitting defeat, now or ever. In fact, he’s only just begun to fight.
Desperately, Walker searches for explanations, only to realize he’s trapped in a horrifying nightmare that is all too real. Instead of being a rich hotshot at the top of the food chain, Walker discovers he’s just another amusing novelty, part of a cargo of “cute” aliens from primitive planets—destined to be sold as pets to highly advanced populations in “civilized” regions of the galaxy.
Even if he weren’t constantly watched by his captors, Walker has few options. After all, there is no escape from a speeding starship. Another man might resign himself to the inevitable and hope to be sold to a kindly owner, but not Walker. This former college football star has plenty of American ingenuity and no intention of admitting defeat, now or ever. In fact, he’s only just begun to fight.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2004
44 people are currently reading
545 people want to read
About the author
Alan Dean Foster
499 books2,035 followersBestselling science fiction writer Alan Dean Foster was born in New York City in 1946, but raised mainly in California. He received a B.A. in Political Science from UCLA in 1968, and a M.F.A. in 1969. Foster lives in Arizona with his wife, but he enjoys traveling because it gives him opportunities to meet new people and explore new places and cultures. This interest is carried over to his writing, but with a twist: the new places encountered in his books are likely to be on another planet, and the people may belong to an alien race.
Foster began his career as an author when a letter he sent to Arkham Collection was purchased by the editor and published in the magazine in 1968. His first novel, The Tar-Aiym Krang, introduced the Humanx Commonwealth, a galactic alliance between humans and an insectlike race called Thranx. Several other novels, including the Icerigger trilogy, are also set in the world of the Commonwealth. The Tar-Aiym Krang also marked the first appearance of Flinx, a young man with paranormal abilities, who reappears in other books, including Orphan Star, For Love of Mother-Not, and Flinx in Flux.
Foster has also written The Damned series and the Spellsinger series, which includes The Hour of the Gate, The Moment of the Magician, The Paths of the Perambulator, and Son of Spellsinger, among others. Other books include novelizations of science fiction movies and television shows such as Star Trek, The Black Hole, Starman, Star Wars, and the Alien movies. Splinter of the Mind's Eye, a bestselling novel based on the Star Wars movies, received the Galaxy Award in 1979. The book Cyber Way won the Southwest Book Award for Fiction in 1990. His novel Our Lady of the Machine won him the UPC Award (Spain) in 1993. He also won the Ignotus Award (Spain) in 1994 and the Stannik Award (Russia) in 2000.
Foster began his career as an author when a letter he sent to Arkham Collection was purchased by the editor and published in the magazine in 1968. His first novel, The Tar-Aiym Krang, introduced the Humanx Commonwealth, a galactic alliance between humans and an insectlike race called Thranx. Several other novels, including the Icerigger trilogy, are also set in the world of the Commonwealth. The Tar-Aiym Krang also marked the first appearance of Flinx, a young man with paranormal abilities, who reappears in other books, including Orphan Star, For Love of Mother-Not, and Flinx in Flux.
Foster has also written The Damned series and the Spellsinger series, which includes The Hour of the Gate, The Moment of the Magician, The Paths of the Perambulator, and Son of Spellsinger, among others. Other books include novelizations of science fiction movies and television shows such as Star Trek, The Black Hole, Starman, Star Wars, and the Alien movies. Splinter of the Mind's Eye, a bestselling novel based on the Star Wars movies, received the Galaxy Award in 1979. The book Cyber Way won the Southwest Book Award for Fiction in 1990. His novel Our Lady of the Machine won him the UPC Award (Spain) in 1993. He also won the Ignotus Award (Spain) in 1994 and the Stannik Award (Russia) in 2000.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
June 20, 2013
There is a talking dog, there are aliens, and there is space travel. It was even funny. So why didn't I love it? It was good, I enjoyed it, but...
I don't know. It felt like an Y.A novel written for adults. Adults who need a vocabulary boost-- I didn't actually need to look up any words, but the book was filled with the author straining to shove some SAT words into every sentence. Maybe that's what kept me from loving it- I had to translate english into english, and I didn't even learn any new words, just got to visit with ones I don't hear to often. It probably didn't help that I listened to this book as opposed to reading it-- the dog should have been a scene stealer, but the narrator's gruff 'dog voice' fell a bit flat. I think I will hunt down the next in the series, and check out more from the author. Because- Aliens. And because 'talking dogs'.
I don't know. It felt like an Y.A novel written for adults. Adults who need a vocabulary boost-- I didn't actually need to look up any words, but the book was filled with the author straining to shove some SAT words into every sentence. Maybe that's what kept me from loving it- I had to translate english into english, and I didn't even learn any new words, just got to visit with ones I don't hear to often. It probably didn't help that I listened to this book as opposed to reading it-- the dog should have been a scene stealer, but the narrator's gruff 'dog voice' fell a bit flat. I think I will hunt down the next in the series, and check out more from the author. Because- Aliens. And because 'talking dogs'.
March 13, 2014
An OK novel about alien abduction and what comes after. This short novel is a setup for a trilogy and I suppose it serves that purpose (get an "average" guy up into galactic society and let's see what happens). However, the hero seems kind of a 50-60s throwback... "all American" former football player or whatever (?) now turned into some kind of finance guy and importer of chocolate (?). He goes camping to prove he can to his buddies. Nearly gets into a bar fight for no reason while getting drunk with a pregnant woman. Then afterwards gets abducted by aliens looking for interstellar pets/slaves.
I'm not sure if his background is supposed to make us root for him or not. He seems more likely to try to punch an alien in the chops than to attempt meaningful First Contact. In any event, I guess I'm saying I didn't connect with him.
George the talking dog also kind of put me off in a weird way... a bit too much like a human in a dog's body, if that makes any sense. It robbed him of any dog charm.
Maybe I just don't have enough appreciation for talking dogs in science fiction.
I was an Alan Dean Foster fan in the 80s (Spellsinger, Pip and Flinx). Maybe I should revisit those.
I'm not sure if his background is supposed to make us root for him or not. He seems more likely to try to punch an alien in the chops than to attempt meaningful First Contact. In any event, I guess I'm saying I didn't connect with him.
George the talking dog also kind of put me off in a weird way... a bit too much like a human in a dog's body, if that makes any sense. It robbed him of any dog charm.
Maybe I just don't have enough appreciation for talking dogs in science fiction.
I was an Alan Dean Foster fan in the 80s (Spellsinger, Pip and Flinx). Maybe I should revisit those.
May 6, 2015
Alien abductions, a talking dog with increased intelligence, sassy aliens, and space travel all told with such delectable, delicious words and wordplay. What's not to like?
I laugh at more parts in the book than I can remember. Completely entertaining and had me wanting more at every turn of the page.
Human Marcus Walker is abducted by aliens with the intent of being sold for profit. On the alien ship, among all the other aliens, he finds himself a Terran companion. The problem is; the other Terran is a dog. The good news; the dog, can talk and has increased intelligence.
Marcus Walker, along with George, the talking dog, find allies on the alien ship and with their help, they set on a mission to escape captivity.
If you are dog-lover, science fiction fan, and into aliens, this is a no- brainer. You will enjoy this book. It's funny, an easy read, and just plain cute.
I laugh at more parts in the book than I can remember. Completely entertaining and had me wanting more at every turn of the page.
Human Marcus Walker is abducted by aliens with the intent of being sold for profit. On the alien ship, among all the other aliens, he finds himself a Terran companion. The problem is; the other Terran is a dog. The good news; the dog, can talk and has increased intelligence.
Marcus Walker, along with George, the talking dog, find allies on the alien ship and with their help, they set on a mission to escape captivity.
If you are dog-lover, science fiction fan, and into aliens, this is a no- brainer. You will enjoy this book. It's funny, an easy read, and just plain cute.
July 1, 2013
Marcus Walker (20s-30s?), well-off Chicago commodities trader, fit athletic ex-college football linebacker on a camping holiday, is kidnapped, with his tent and part of the mountain lake, by outer-space slavers. Big "purplish pebble-skinned" p89 Vilenjjis implant prisoners with language translation chips, jail them in cells resembling their native habitats, and sell them as novelties in other galaxies. To attain freedom, Marc bands with talking canine George and aliens - Sque, smart cephalapod, and Braouk, mostly vertical mouth in 9' yellow-green quilled torso. But all are far from home, and none know the way back.
Despite un-spellable names, my admiration for the writing can be measured by the quantity of quotes. Although the plot is weak, the style is entrancing. I did not intend to seek more, but on re-visiting re-view, re-minded of Foster's engaging irresistible word-play and unique, fully-fleshed inside-and-out alien characters. Younger, I was addicted to his output. Once an addict .. always. Like Pratchett, dependably fun carousel rides.
Everything is logical and planned out. The escape is a workable surprise. The final deus ex machina is disappointing but realistic. Dashes of humor amuse, such as vodka called "iced potato juice" p8. In the scrap wilderness, Marc, as a skilled outdoorsman, can survive. He catches fish to fry, but ""Without their PDAs, laptops. and cell phones, most of his friends couldn't catch a cold" p8. "Days, like gas, continued to pass" p55. Marc puns to George "just say that I'm dogged" p70.
George promotes equality, and acceptance, perhaps as a comment on our culture. "Humans beg all the time. For better jobs, for sexual favors, for the appreciation of their fellows" p46. "Dogs don't cry. Only on the inside" p55. "The less trouble you cause, the better you behave, the more rewards you'll get and the less attention the purple-skins will pay to you" p65. George advises "to be more accomodating, more understanding, of alien needs and customs .. make friends with something that didn't have a hand to shake" p70.
In a vicious temper, carnivorous Braouk rips and eats opponents. However when calm, he declaims in 3-part verse. "Sentience and sentenced, adrift among the stars, lost dreaming" p104. "Sorrow is sharing, the abducted are together, many one" p107. "They perceive only my physicality, and my furies, and do not try to interact with the sensitive inner part that is my true self .. My situation languishes, for want of hope, lachrymose laughing " p116.
Marc hopes for escape, refuses "the canine equivalent of 'Stick your head between your legs and kiss your as good=bye'",. Besides, Sque "had no ass". George starts passive: "spend your time concentrating on maintaining your health. There is nothing you can do" p85. "We'll just have to take life day to day" p87. Marc both insults and flatters Sque to get her involved: "Otherwise you and all the K'eremu are nothing but big bags of rope-flailing water and hot air, too enamored of their own snobbery and arrogance to admit to the truth" plus "clearly the most intelligent among us, everything must start with you" p126.
Communication and compromise rule their interactions. Phrasing is more flowery than terse. Braouk offers "I will carry all the food and drink. The sum of it weighs less on my mind than the complaining of others". Sque bites off "a riposte", takes "cautioning glance to heart, or whatever equivalent internal system she employed to pump critical body fluids through her system" p166, but later chides "Listless biped" p187.
At first, captors want commodities alive and healthy. Those demonstrably more intelligent will command higher prices. But dead comrades, and lost hours, raise the cost too high. When pursuit shifts from their point of view, the language style is unusually wordy, burying low humor in multi-syllable descriptors. (Illustrated, graphic, or film version, anyone?)
"The object of their resolve .. A repair automaton that had been methodically and liberally coated with the organic byproducts of not one but four different free-ranging inventory .. the diligence and technological superiority of the Vilenjji had been systematically deceived .. sight that was at once unpleasant and taunting .. where, if not here, the unspeakable absent inventory had betaken themselves" p195. Can you translate this to "covered in sh-t to mask scent trail"?
The original Star Trek Federation future is a universe of hope, technology, and peace, as is Foster's. Strange appearances can hide friends. "Galactic civilization, they learned, was not a monolithic alliance of developed worlds and sentient species, but rather an idea, a notion of mutual civility and respect that precluded the need for rigid gonvernmental ties. It was, perhaps of necessity, not perfect, as testified to by the activities of individual rascal elements .. The galaxy was a big place, allowing room for societies at all stages of development" p239.
How heroes meet
In a rundown Earth alley lookalike resides dog George, whose intelligence has also been augmented. In a dark damp foggy corner, ten-leg "bright red octopus" p72. Sque "Sequi'aranaqua'na'senemu, female of the K'eremu" p76 insults derisively, "supercilious, conceited, arrogant" p191. vain, rude, drug addict, and very very smart.
As punishment for misbehavior, Marc is dumped another enclosure of yellowish-green bristled hills, one that rises nine feet to become Braouk. "Broulkoun-uvv-ahd-Hrashkin" p106, species Tuuqualian, is a four-tentacled solid muscle torso slashed vertically by a mouth with "startlingly white triangular teeth the size of playing cards .. precisely offset" to "interlock seamlessly" p94.
Braouk's booming sagas shield the quartet's whispered escape plans from listening guards. But one day he forgets to eat, and, violently raging, gulps up George and Sque. Despite Marc desperately flinging stones, I was suspicious, until he ate his synthetic food cube meal on top of them.
Question:
Marc is well established in his career, enthusiastic, not jaded, athletic capable camper, single, testosterone-fueled for one-night stand with girl "his age or a little younger" p8, and still fit from time as college football linebacker, educated literate, never in military even as reserve. Is the emphasis on his football to set his age closer to 20s, to explain no paunch? Was his hair color noted, dark or grey? How old is he?
Definitions:
p152, 180 "lambent" glowing, flickering
Typos:
p141 "injested" is "ingested"
Despite un-spellable names, my admiration for the writing can be measured by the quantity of quotes. Although the plot is weak, the style is entrancing. I did not intend to seek more, but on re-visiting re-view, re-minded of Foster's engaging irresistible word-play and unique, fully-fleshed inside-and-out alien characters. Younger, I was addicted to his output. Once an addict .. always. Like Pratchett, dependably fun carousel rides.
Everything is logical and planned out. The escape is a workable surprise. The final deus ex machina is disappointing but realistic. Dashes of humor amuse, such as vodka called "iced potato juice" p8. In the scrap wilderness, Marc, as a skilled outdoorsman, can survive. He catches fish to fry, but ""Without their PDAs, laptops. and cell phones, most of his friends couldn't catch a cold" p8. "Days, like gas, continued to pass" p55. Marc puns to George "just say that I'm dogged" p70.
George promotes equality, and acceptance, perhaps as a comment on our culture. "Humans beg all the time. For better jobs, for sexual favors, for the appreciation of their fellows" p46. "Dogs don't cry. Only on the inside" p55. "The less trouble you cause, the better you behave, the more rewards you'll get and the less attention the purple-skins will pay to you" p65. George advises "to be more accomodating, more understanding, of alien needs and customs .. make friends with something that didn't have a hand to shake" p70.
In a vicious temper, carnivorous Braouk rips and eats opponents. However when calm, he declaims in 3-part verse. "Sentience and sentenced, adrift among the stars, lost dreaming" p104. "Sorrow is sharing, the abducted are together, many one" p107. "They perceive only my physicality, and my furies, and do not try to interact with the sensitive inner part that is my true self .. My situation languishes, for want of hope, lachrymose laughing " p116.
Marc hopes for escape, refuses "the canine equivalent of 'Stick your head between your legs and kiss your as good=bye'",. Besides, Sque "had no ass". George starts passive: "spend your time concentrating on maintaining your health. There is nothing you can do" p85. "We'll just have to take life day to day" p87. Marc both insults and flatters Sque to get her involved: "Otherwise you and all the K'eremu are nothing but big bags of rope-flailing water and hot air, too enamored of their own snobbery and arrogance to admit to the truth" plus "clearly the most intelligent among us, everything must start with you" p126.
Communication and compromise rule their interactions. Phrasing is more flowery than terse. Braouk offers "I will carry all the food and drink. The sum of it weighs less on my mind than the complaining of others". Sque bites off "a riposte", takes "cautioning glance to heart, or whatever equivalent internal system she employed to pump critical body fluids through her system" p166, but later chides "Listless biped" p187.
At first, captors want commodities alive and healthy. Those demonstrably more intelligent will command higher prices. But dead comrades, and lost hours, raise the cost too high. When pursuit shifts from their point of view, the language style is unusually wordy, burying low humor in multi-syllable descriptors. (Illustrated, graphic, or film version, anyone?)
"The object of their resolve .. A repair automaton that had been methodically and liberally coated with the organic byproducts of not one but four different free-ranging inventory .. the diligence and technological superiority of the Vilenjji had been systematically deceived .. sight that was at once unpleasant and taunting .. where, if not here, the unspeakable absent inventory had betaken themselves" p195. Can you translate this to "covered in sh-t to mask scent trail"?
The original Star Trek Federation future is a universe of hope, technology, and peace, as is Foster's. Strange appearances can hide friends. "Galactic civilization, they learned, was not a monolithic alliance of developed worlds and sentient species, but rather an idea, a notion of mutual civility and respect that precluded the need for rigid gonvernmental ties. It was, perhaps of necessity, not perfect, as testified to by the activities of individual rascal elements .. The galaxy was a big place, allowing room for societies at all stages of development" p239.
How heroes meet
In a rundown Earth alley lookalike resides dog George, whose intelligence has also been augmented. In a dark damp foggy corner, ten-leg "bright red octopus" p72. Sque "Sequi'aranaqua'na'senemu, female of the K'eremu" p76 insults derisively, "supercilious, conceited, arrogant" p191. vain, rude, drug addict, and very very smart.
As punishment for misbehavior, Marc is dumped another enclosure of yellowish-green bristled hills, one that rises nine feet to become Braouk. "Broulkoun-uvv-ahd-Hrashkin" p106, species Tuuqualian, is a four-tentacled solid muscle torso slashed vertically by a mouth with "startlingly white triangular teeth the size of playing cards .. precisely offset" to "interlock seamlessly" p94.
Braouk's booming sagas shield the quartet's whispered escape plans from listening guards. But one day he forgets to eat, and, violently raging, gulps up George and Sque. Despite Marc desperately flinging stones, I was suspicious, until he ate his synthetic food cube meal on top of them.
Question:
Marc is well established in his career, enthusiastic, not jaded, athletic capable camper, single, testosterone-fueled for one-night stand with girl "his age or a little younger" p8, and still fit from time as college football linebacker, educated literate, never in military even as reserve. Is the emphasis on his football to set his age closer to 20s, to explain no paunch? Was his hair color noted, dark or grey? How old is he?
Definitions:
p152, 180 "lambent" glowing, flickering
Typos:
p141 "injested" is "ingested"
April 24, 2017
tidbits of humor ,but nothing else
August 4, 2010
There were times when I couldn't put this book down, and times when I found myself skipping over text. Fortunately the majority of the book was the former.
This is one of those books that sounds super ridiculous when you try to explain it to someone. It's a lot more than just a guy being a pet for aliens. You get to meet some interesting personalities from being not of this world, and a very strange one from this world. I enjoyed this book a lot and I would recommend it to anyone who likes science fiction.
This is one of those books that sounds super ridiculous when you try to explain it to someone. It's a lot more than just a guy being a pet for aliens. You get to meet some interesting personalities from being not of this world, and a very strange one from this world. I enjoyed this book a lot and I would recommend it to anyone who likes science fiction.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 12, 2011
I picked it up because it mentioned a talking dog and aliens...and I enjoyed reading it. I liked the story and the characters. Can't wait to read the sequel.
July 6, 2020
This opening to the trilogy is by far the best of the series. On the surface it is a sci fi alien abduction story. The cast of characters are a wide variety of species abducted by the classic saucers from space in the middle of the night from isolated rural areas.
But it works much better as a Jailhouse survival story, complete with snitches and some of the associated tropes https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.ph...
The cast of characters finds that they have not been abducted to be studied, 'probed' and released, but are being kept as 'inventory' to be sold as exotic pets or zoo exhibits to buyers at the edges of galactic society ( where the laws about sentient rights aren't rigorously enforced )
Eventually a gang of four aliens come together as friends.
1: Tuuqualian ( at first perception a giant brute )
2: K'eremu ( egotistical Octopus )
3: Canine ( Terran Dog who has been genetically modified with the 'gift' of speech and intelligence)
4: Human ( commodities trader from Chicago, abducted while camping )
The inmates end up having to band together to come up with a coordinated plan of mutiny and escape from the prison. This is made harder by the fact that their jailhouse is a ship traveling through interstellar space at lightspeeds.
The story is engaging but does have some flaws. It is mostly told from the third person viewpoint of the main character. Mr. Foster has chosen as his 'everyman' the human, Marcus Walker, a very successful commodities trader on the Chicago stock exchange who went through college on a football scholarship. ?? Has the author ever ever ever attended a sci fi con? How he thought that this character would get anything but an immediate and viscerally negative response from the majority of his reading fandom is beyond me. In any case it came across as a lazy choice. He wanted his character to be physically fit, familiar with violence, and be savvy in trade negotiations....plug that background in and done..
The strength of the series is seen more in the character of George, the dog. While many of us have thought how cool it would be to be Dr. Doolittle.and most of us instinctively talk to them like they were toddlers https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/9...
not many of us have really thought what the dog would say if given the means. George has not just been given the ability to talk, but also a Flowers for Algernon level of understanding for what he has lost and his mortality/short lifespan. Despite all this, George's character maintains a positive outlook and is the friendly glue holding both the storyline and the characters together.
If you liked this story as much as I, you should go on to read the last two in the series. They aren't quite as good as this first one..and to be frank, Mr. Foster has trouble finishing a story line. He always wants to leave something open ended in case there is more money to be made with 7 more books.
But it works much better as a Jailhouse survival story, complete with snitches and some of the associated tropes https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.ph...
The cast of characters finds that they have not been abducted to be studied, 'probed' and released, but are being kept as 'inventory' to be sold as exotic pets or zoo exhibits to buyers at the edges of galactic society ( where the laws about sentient rights aren't rigorously enforced )
Eventually a gang of four aliens come together as friends.
1: Tuuqualian ( at first perception a giant brute )
2: K'eremu ( egotistical Octopus )
3: Canine ( Terran Dog who has been genetically modified with the 'gift' of speech and intelligence)
4: Human ( commodities trader from Chicago, abducted while camping )
The inmates end up having to band together to come up with a coordinated plan of mutiny and escape from the prison. This is made harder by the fact that their jailhouse is a ship traveling through interstellar space at lightspeeds.
The story is engaging but does have some flaws. It is mostly told from the third person viewpoint of the main character. Mr. Foster has chosen as his 'everyman' the human, Marcus Walker, a very successful commodities trader on the Chicago stock exchange who went through college on a football scholarship. ?? Has the author ever ever ever attended a sci fi con? How he thought that this character would get anything but an immediate and viscerally negative response from the majority of his reading fandom is beyond me. In any case it came across as a lazy choice. He wanted his character to be physically fit, familiar with violence, and be savvy in trade negotiations....plug that background in and done..
The strength of the series is seen more in the character of George, the dog. While many of us have thought how cool it would be to be Dr. Doolittle.and most of us instinctively talk to them like they were toddlers https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/9...
not many of us have really thought what the dog would say if given the means. George has not just been given the ability to talk, but also a Flowers for Algernon level of understanding for what he has lost and his mortality/short lifespan. Despite all this, George's character maintains a positive outlook and is the friendly glue holding both the storyline and the characters together.
If you liked this story as much as I, you should go on to read the last two in the series. They aren't quite as good as this first one..and to be frank, Mr. Foster has trouble finishing a story line. He always wants to leave something open ended in case there is more money to be made with 7 more books.
August 26, 2020
I don’t remember for sure why I originally picked this book up, but I’m fairly sure it was because there were rumors of a talking dog. And possibly because of aliens.
It’s a fun concept. There is indeed a talking dog. There are aliens. It should have been a quick, highly entertaining read... but a couple things held is back.
The first? Our main character, Marcus Walker. Marcus Walker is a former jock turned commodities trader from Chicago. He is successful, supremely confident, skilled at schmoozing others to get what he wants, and unused to disappointment. He is, in fact, that sort of shallow, selfish, egotistical guy who has always been pampered and privileged and whom I find, at best, extremely irritating. He’s definitely not the sort of main character I want in a book.
The second thing is the writing style.
I once saw a writing tip that suggested using a thesaurus to avoid using words that are, well, overused. This advice seems to have been taken to heart in this book, as if someone literally went through the manuscript with a thesaurus to pluck unconventional jargon from relative obscurity.
This creates such gems as:
“Bunyanesque lengths of amputated oak crackled for attention within the Stygian depths of a corner fireplace...”
or
“...Walker forbore from articulating the obvious gambit.”
or
“...the transalpine drunken troublemakers who habituated the sole drinking establishment of metropolitan Bug Jump, California...”
or
“...the creature administrating the ophthalmological treatment to its ocularly challenge companion noticed the astounded simian gawking...”
The above examples are from just the first 2 chapters of the book (and they are not long chapters). It doesn’t stop.
It’s entertaining in small doses. But to be perfectly honest, candid, forthright, and sincere, the intemperate, superfluous verbosity was quite frankly... too much. While I advocate the use of unusual words, this was over the top.
If you can get past the writing style and annoyance at Walker (I personally did a lot of eye rolling), it’s an entertaining story. It’s the first book of a trilogy... I may eventually pick up the next book just to see what happens, but I’m not in any hurry.
It’s a fun concept. There is indeed a talking dog. There are aliens. It should have been a quick, highly entertaining read... but a couple things held is back.
The first? Our main character, Marcus Walker. Marcus Walker is a former jock turned commodities trader from Chicago. He is successful, supremely confident, skilled at schmoozing others to get what he wants, and unused to disappointment. He is, in fact, that sort of shallow, selfish, egotistical guy who has always been pampered and privileged and whom I find, at best, extremely irritating. He’s definitely not the sort of main character I want in a book.
The second thing is the writing style.
I once saw a writing tip that suggested using a thesaurus to avoid using words that are, well, overused. This advice seems to have been taken to heart in this book, as if someone literally went through the manuscript with a thesaurus to pluck unconventional jargon from relative obscurity.
This creates such gems as:
“Bunyanesque lengths of amputated oak crackled for attention within the Stygian depths of a corner fireplace...”
or
“...Walker forbore from articulating the obvious gambit.”
or
“...the transalpine drunken troublemakers who habituated the sole drinking establishment of metropolitan Bug Jump, California...”
or
“...the creature administrating the ophthalmological treatment to its ocularly challenge companion noticed the astounded simian gawking...”
The above examples are from just the first 2 chapters of the book (and they are not long chapters). It doesn’t stop.
It’s entertaining in small doses. But to be perfectly honest, candid, forthright, and sincere, the intemperate, superfluous verbosity was quite frankly... too much. While I advocate the use of unusual words, this was over the top.
If you can get past the writing style and annoyance at Walker (I personally did a lot of eye rolling), it’s an entertaining story. It’s the first book of a trilogy... I may eventually pick up the next book just to see what happens, but I’m not in any hurry.
May 17, 2025
Foster is at his best giving outer space originality in 80's serial fashion.
To be abducted by aliens, as merchandise for other aliens, is a lot to process. The premise sticks quickly, although we never find out where the merch was to end up (might be an interesting short story). Learning during captivity that you are among hundreds, even thousands of other life forms not from Earth, is even more mind blowing yet Foster has done a serviceable job creating the myriad other races available for abductions, and those that are doing the abducting.
The story is simply told, almost too story-by-numbers, but keeps the reader engaged with "hope" of escape, no matter how ludicrous that may be. Turns out this is the beginning of a trilogy. Yet the experience is contained within the Villenji (bad aliens) containment vessel for most of the story.
The interactions feel all too human, as one might expect, regardless of the alien intelligence involved. All the merch is fitted with implants to translate languages, some are even upgraded with intelligence boosts, looking at George, the dog from Chicago that is co-lead of the story. He is a companion to Marcus Walker, our representative in captivity.
Foster is ever the storyteller and easily captures the imagination. The story moves quickly and in expected turns, however, the ride is still enjoyable.
Recommended for those in between serious books or series in need of light reading. Highly worth it.
Thanks for reading.
To be abducted by aliens, as merchandise for other aliens, is a lot to process. The premise sticks quickly, although we never find out where the merch was to end up (might be an interesting short story). Learning during captivity that you are among hundreds, even thousands of other life forms not from Earth, is even more mind blowing yet Foster has done a serviceable job creating the myriad other races available for abductions, and those that are doing the abducting.
The story is simply told, almost too story-by-numbers, but keeps the reader engaged with "hope" of escape, no matter how ludicrous that may be. Turns out this is the beginning of a trilogy. Yet the experience is contained within the Villenji (bad aliens) containment vessel for most of the story.
The interactions feel all too human, as one might expect, regardless of the alien intelligence involved. All the merch is fitted with implants to translate languages, some are even upgraded with intelligence boosts, looking at George, the dog from Chicago that is co-lead of the story. He is a companion to Marcus Walker, our representative in captivity.
Foster is ever the storyteller and easily captures the imagination. The story moves quickly and in expected turns, however, the ride is still enjoyable.
Recommended for those in between serious books or series in need of light reading. Highly worth it.
Thanks for reading.
September 10, 2020
I don't remember off the top of my head having read a book about actual victims of alien abduction. Not X-files style abductions, but actual "Let's kidnap a few from each planet and put 'em up for bid" abductions. That's where Foster went with Lost and Found: all around ordinary guy Marc Walker finds himself ripped from his campsite in the Sierras by 7 foot purple aliens, only to wake up... in his campsite in the Sierras. Except now there are energy barriers a few yards out, food bricks brought up by dumbwaiter 3 times a day, and an occasional alien watching indifferently from the corridor. Eventually, there's also George, a dog given enhanced intelligence and the power of speech by their captors for reasons that are not entirely comprehensible.
Like most of the Foster books I've read on my latest binge, this story is more fun than serious or thought provoking. And I did enjoy it. Foster creates some amusing and imaginative aliens, throws them together in a zoo, and then lets them try to break out. Which they do, of course, but not so quickly that things don't lag a bit. Really, aside from the occasional overuse of $0.50 words and other adjectives, what the story suffers from most is pacing. It took a very long time for anything to happen, and when it finally did it lacked perhaps the true Zing of a well-written climax.
But I'm not sorry I read it, and I was pleased to find I could check out book 2 from the local library instead of throwing down for a Kindle version.
Like most of the Foster books I've read on my latest binge, this story is more fun than serious or thought provoking. And I did enjoy it. Foster creates some amusing and imaginative aliens, throws them together in a zoo, and then lets them try to break out. Which they do, of course, but not so quickly that things don't lag a bit. Really, aside from the occasional overuse of $0.50 words and other adjectives, what the story suffers from most is pacing. It took a very long time for anything to happen, and when it finally did it lacked perhaps the true Zing of a well-written climax.
But I'm not sorry I read it, and I was pleased to find I could check out book 2 from the local library instead of throwing down for a Kindle version.
September 28, 2025
Lost and Found is a perfectly serviceable SF novel. As the dust jacket says, protagonist Mark Walker gets kidnaped by alien slavers and must first adapt to his new surroundings and then plan an escape. One issue with the book is that the narration tends to be overly verbose.
"Having despite several promising opportunities resolutely put off applying for admission to the institution of marriage, he retained certain enviable options that were no longer open to most of his friends."
"Though the towering, arching structures that formed the colorful artificial canyons through which they were presently soaring had been designed to serve practical purposes, that in no way mitigated their beauty or the admiration they extorted from the visitors."
Those poor sentences had families!
SPOILERS FOLLOW.
My other issue with the book is that the plot wraps up via deus ex machina. Mark and his alien friends successfully break out of the prison ward of the Vilenjji ship, elude the pursuing slavers, and hijack a "lifeboat" that should get them to a habitable planet. Then out of nowhere, a vastly larger starship full of technologically and ethically superior aliens shows up. These new aliens subdue the Vilenjji, free all their captives, and take Mark and his friends to their homeworld where they are allowed to live in high-technology luxury.
"Having despite several promising opportunities resolutely put off applying for admission to the institution of marriage, he retained certain enviable options that were no longer open to most of his friends."
"Though the towering, arching structures that formed the colorful artificial canyons through which they were presently soaring had been designed to serve practical purposes, that in no way mitigated their beauty or the admiration they extorted from the visitors."
Those poor sentences had families!
SPOILERS FOLLOW.
My other issue with the book is that the plot wraps up via deus ex machina. Mark and his alien friends successfully break out of the prison ward of the Vilenjji ship, elude the pursuing slavers, and hijack a "lifeboat" that should get them to a habitable planet. Then out of nowhere, a vastly larger starship full of technologically and ethically superior aliens shows up. These new aliens subdue the Vilenjji, free all their captives, and take Mark and his friends to their homeworld where they are allowed to live in high-technology luxury.
March 15, 2019
I chose to buy this book because I like Alan Dean’s storytelling and have enjoyed his novelizations of the Alien series and the reboot of the Star Trek movies.
This book did not disappoint! I’m not sure if it was intended to be a great story with undertones of racial, social and class tolerance just set in outer space with aliens instead of humans or not but that’s how it read to me.
People make assumptions based on their personal experiences, self worth and upbringing when interacting with others who are not from the same background. This is an easy way to misjudged others and Alan Dean created a variety of scenarios to illustrate this mistake. The good guys and the bad guys both misjudged and underestimated each other.
George the talking dog was my favourite character, he reminded me a lot of Oberon the telepathic wolfhound from The Iron Druid Chronicles but with more sarcasm.
I would very much like to listen to the rest of the series but it is not available on Audible!
One very poignant emotion I took away was the idea of dying and my remains not being on Earth, how would I feel about! Every human who has lived, still remains on this planet and we take it for granted, it’s a given!
This book did not disappoint! I’m not sure if it was intended to be a great story with undertones of racial, social and class tolerance just set in outer space with aliens instead of humans or not but that’s how it read to me.
People make assumptions based on their personal experiences, self worth and upbringing when interacting with others who are not from the same background. This is an easy way to misjudged others and Alan Dean created a variety of scenarios to illustrate this mistake. The good guys and the bad guys both misjudged and underestimated each other.
George the talking dog was my favourite character, he reminded me a lot of Oberon the telepathic wolfhound from The Iron Druid Chronicles but with more sarcasm.
I would very much like to listen to the rest of the series but it is not available on Audible!
One very poignant emotion I took away was the idea of dying and my remains not being on Earth, how would I feel about! Every human who has lived, still remains on this planet and we take it for granted, it’s a given!
July 6, 2022
SPOILER: Don't read the cover blurb, if you read the hard cover. I did and was prepared to hate the book. And it started slowly...then it got interesting. And in the end, I really enjoyed it. So don't do like me. Marc Walker is the protagonist; I didn't like him at first, either. He grew on me. And I love George, the dog who is, along with a very large alien and a small alien with a big ego, in Marc's party for the second half of the book. I don't want to actually spoil it for anyone; so I'll just say that Mr. Foster took a premise I was prepared to hate and made me love the story and enjoy it. Recommended.
April 21, 2020
+Abducted from his California wilderness camp by aliens Marcus Walker makes friends with a fellow Chicagoan an enhanced talking alley mutt who he christens George. George is a natural friend maker and together they make the acquaintance of most of the oxygen breathers in their common area. All have their own special habitat that abuts the central area. Two of their special friends are Sque a short, highly decorated decapod and Braouk a giant with eyes on stalks and 4 base tentacles and 2 that acted as arms. Sque is very smart and lets everyone know that she is smarter than they. Braouk can move very quickly, loves long poetic recitations and occasionally goes berserk. Will they ever get out of this situation and find their way home?+
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 23, 2024
Ni siquiera me dí cuenta cuando lo terminé. El protagonista me enganchó, creo que está muy bien construído, no es el tipico "dedo dorado", heroe que quiere salvar el mundo, ni siquiera se da cuenta de lo que logra hasta que lo logra, sus motivaciones y reacciones son válidas. Un buen personaje en el género, lo que es bastante difícil de encontrar cuando se trata de un primer contacto con el punto de vista que no sea el de los extraterrestres. Lo curioso aquí es que creí que me engancharía más con el perro cuando empecé el libro jaj bueno, no, incluso creo que estaría en el top 3
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 6, 2016
Alien abduction, with a humorous twist! Our hero, an ex-football player turned commodities trader finds himself in a place far from home. His sidekick, a talking dog named George helps our hero Marcus hatch a plan to escape from their alien abductors. Once free, they find themselves far from home with no hope of return.
This was a great book, full of humor and action. If I were to be alien abducted, this would be the way to go! Love the dog George!
This was a great book, full of humor and action. If I were to be alien abducted, this would be the way to go! Love the dog George!
May 31, 2021
It's been a few years since I read Alan Dean Foster. He's gotten better. Here he tells the tale of alien abduction. Marcus is taken from a camp site. A dog, who he names George, is taken from an alley and has his intellect boosted and is given the ability to speak. Most of this book, the first of a trilogy, is about their captivity on the alien ship, meeting other aliens, and attempting escape. Funny ending.
June 2, 2017
Our hero Walker is kidnapped by a group of aliens whose business is collecting sentient oddities for sale to other alien cultures. He is not as much fun as Flinx, but his uplifted dog companion George is snarky and occasionally wise---less lethal but as much fun as Pip. A journeyman job by a journeyman writer. 3.5
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September 6, 2021I remember enjoying the Pip & Flinx series in high school (?), but the only Alan Dean Foster book I still had on my shelf was this one. I'm sure I read it at one point because mention of the talking dog gave me deja vu.
While deciding whether to keep or purge it, I read the first few pages ... and it's male-gazey enough that I don't need to read it in this golden age of feminist sci fi.
While deciding whether to keep or purge it, I read the first few pages ... and it's male-gazey enough that I don't need to read it in this golden age of feminist sci fi.
July 20, 2024
The start of a great adventure of the galaxy and self.
I have the paperback and read it years ago and just got the digital version.
If your a scifi lover this is a great start to the trilogy.
Alan Dean Foster has a way of creating worlds and civilizations that dazzle the mind. ;)
I have the paperback and read it years ago and just got the digital version.
If your a scifi lover this is a great start to the trilogy.
Alan Dean Foster has a way of creating worlds and civilizations that dazzle the mind. ;)
March 18, 2025
It’s been awhile since reading an Alan Dean Foster novel. Definitely creative but some parts tend to drag. I remember running into this a little with the Flinx novels. Still seems appropriate for this particular storyline because the main characters were held captive for a lengthy period of time…the hours will drag.
November 21, 2017
Pretty decent book. Revolves around alien abduction of main character along with many other alien species from across the universe. The novel is part of a trilogy and has some humor in it as well. It reminds me of a "Hitchhikers guide" type of book. Very quick read with some memorable characters.
May 18, 2018
This was my second Alan Dean Foster Novel.
As with The Human Blend, at first I enjoyed the setting and the slight humor.
However as the book dragged on I became more and more frustrated, finding it too shallow and too dumbed down for my taste.
As with The Human Blend, at first I enjoyed the setting and the slight humor.
However as the book dragged on I became more and more frustrated, finding it too shallow and too dumbed down for my taste.
July 17, 2018
A few surprises that I might have seen coming if the summer heat hadn't addled my brain. This book is sci-fi without the need to know quantum physics. A lot of humor and a huge variety of interstellar species. Quick and worth the time.
May 23, 2021
Years ago I read a lot of Foster. I remember them as fun and somewhat adventuresome, but this was way too much talking, followed by more talking where the same things were said again. I don't think I will continue the series. The talking dog was fun.
August 31, 2025
An entertaining read. Very different characters (and species) form an unlikely friendship/alliance to plot escape from their alien captors.
When I picked it up, I didn't realize it was book 1 in a trilogy--Taken.
When I picked it up, I didn't realize it was book 1 in a trilogy--Taken.
December 15, 2018
It was alright, slow at first, action and intrest only started about 3/4 of the way in. Didn't care for the ending but I already knew there would be no closer. It is a 3 novel series.
February 1, 2019
Food cubes. If you want to know about high-tech prisons and breaking out of them then this is the book for you.
April 5, 2019
not blown away by this first instalment. An old idea handled with good verbal gymnastics, let down by perhaps not going overly far nor doing it in anything of an exciting fashion.
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